American Education Week - Nov. 11th-17th

Submitted by:  Dr. Caroline Winchester, Superintendent of Chadron Public Schools

American Education Week----November 11-17

“Public Schools: A Basic Right and Responsibility”

Public Education is Great. Why is that? Because ALL children from ages 5 to 21 can
attend school for free in a school that offers a broad curriculum and provides the tools for
learning. Somewhere this week a child will learn to read for the first time or understand
an algebraic equation or fall in love with history or discover a hidden talent. In any case
their lives will never be the same. What a wonderful privilege and opportunity.

Public Education is a cornerstone of our democracy. Last week Chadron Public
Schools was visited by our Governor, Commissioner of Education, and Chairman of
the Legislature’s Education committee who are members of Nebraska’s P-16 initiative
to strengthen education. Nebraska recognizes that a well-educated public includes
more productive workers with higher incomes and less dependence on public assistance
programs. Communities that have vibrant school systems tend to be more flourishing and
linked to lower crime rates, improved public health, and more stable families.

American Education Week was created in 1919 as a joint venture between the American
Legion and the National Education Association (NEA) to seek ways to generate public
support for education. Both groups were distressed that 25% of the country’s World War
I draftees were illiterate.

Take a minute this week to reflect on the educators in your life that made this precious
opportunity of an education possible. If you can thank them personally or take a minute
to thank the many educators in our community for choosing to dedicate their professional
life to the education or our most precious resource, our children.